Jennifer Swearingen Vance

Jennifer Jane (Swearingen) Vance

With deep sadness we share the news that Jenny passed away and went to be with our Lord and Savior on August 30th, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Jenny was born in Hannibal, Missouri on August 6, 1953. She grew up in Farmington, Missouri, then moved back to Hannibal, before graduating from Hannibal High School. She then went on for additional training as an x-ray tech, operating room tech, finally receiving her RN degree from Central Methodist College in Missouri. She then worked as an operating room nurse for several years. She met the love of her life, Phil, on a blind date, and became his wife on June 2, 1979. They were best friends, soul mates, inseparable partners and loving companions in everything for 39 years. God blessed them with 3 wonderful children, followed by 4 perfect grandchildren. She took pleasures in traveling, biking, paddle boarding, hiking, and attending theater productions. More than anything she enjoyed spending valuable time with her family, whom she dearly loved. When the kids were grown, she went to work as the bookkeeper for Phil's medical practice, where she put her finely tuned attention to detail to good use. She was a devoted and loving wife, a wonderful, caring mother and grandmother, was kind, funny, playful, and appreciated the beauty of the world and said so often. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and will be sorely missed by Phil, her children Ryan (wife Ashley), Rebecca Pape (husband Bryan), and Sarah. She is also survived by her grandchildren Ella Vance, Lucy Vance, Sienna Pape, and Gavin Pape. Her brother Phillip Swearingen (wife Janet,) her sister in law Gayle Lieberman (husband Steve) and brother in law Rick Vance (wife Jan,) and several nieces and nephews.
Those we love don't go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, and still missed. Nothing can ever take away the love our hearts hold dear. Fond memories will linger every day. God has you in his keeping. We have you in our hearts.
Funeral services will be held on September 15th at 11:00 a.m., at the Highline Christian Church in Burien.
Memorial gifts may be made to The American Cancer Society or Highline Christian Church.


John 11:25-26. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. She who believes in me will live, even though she dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."